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Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Original research

Maxillofacial fractures and craniocerebral injuries – stress propagation from face to neurocranium in a finite element analysis

Authors: Heike Huempfner-Hierl, Andreas Schaller, Thomas Hierl

Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Severe facial trauma is often associated with intracerebral injuries. So it seemed to be of interest to study stress propagation from face to neurocranium after a fistlike impact on the facial skull in a finite element analysis.

Methods

A finite element model of the human skull without mandible consisting of nearly 740,000 tetrahedrons was built. Fistlike impacts on the infraorbital rim, the nasoorbitoethmoid region, and the supraorbital arch were simulated and stress propagations were depicted in a time-dependent display.

Results

Finite element simulation revealed von Mises stresses beyond the yield criterion of facial bone at the site of impacts and propagation of stresses in considerable amount towards skull base in the scenario of the fistlike impact on the infraorbital rim and on the nasoorbitoethmoid region. When impact was given on the supraorbital arch stresses seemed to be absorbed.

Conclusions

As patients presenting with facial fractures have a risk for craniocerebral injuries attention should be paid to this and the indication for a CT-scan should be put widely. Efforts have to be made to generate more precise finite element models for a better comprehension of craniofacial and brain injury.

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Title: Maxillofacial fractures and craniocerebral injuries – stress propagation from face to neurocranium in a finite element analysis
Authors: Heike Huempfner-Hierl
Andreas Schaller
Thomas Hierl
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1757-7241
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-015-0117-z

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Maxillofacial fractures and craniocerebral injuries – stress propagation from face to neurocranium in a finite element analysis

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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